Mar 20, 2024

Snap, Crackle, Pop: Navigating Shoulder Arthritis

Snap, crackle, pop — Ouch! These are the sounds that might accompany you and your shoulder. In fact, recent population surveys have determined that an estimated 18-26% of adults experience shoulder pain, making it one of the most common regional pain syndromes.

For some individuals experiencing shoulder pain, arthritis is their main culprit. Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that can affect many joints, causing pain and a loss of mobility. While osteoarthritis is the most common form of shoulder arthritis, rheumatoid and traumatic arthritis can also impact your shoulder.

Arthritis symptoms can be painful and persistent, disrupting life at home or work, and hindering you from enjoying your active hobbies. Luckily, the road to recovering your shoulder mobility starts here; This blog dives into everything you need to know about how arthritis develops, common symptoms, and treatments to relieve pain and restore function.

Arthritis: A Leading Cause of Shoulder Pain

Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint composed of the scapula, humerus, and clavicle. Healthy shoulder joints are supported by healthy connective tissue (tendons, ligaments, and cartilage), muscle tissue, and a stable rotator cuff, allowing you to complete a wide range of motion including rotation, adduction, abduction, flexion, and extension.

Arthritis is a common cause of shoulder pain, resulting from various factors including injury, inflammation, and overuse. When cartilage (the cushion between your joints) becomes damaged, it can lead to bone-on-bone friction and contribute to arthritis symptoms such as instability, reduced mobility, pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Shoulder osteoarthritis will typically develop in the glenohumeral joint, the larger shoulder joint, as well as the acromio-clavicular (AC) joint.

How Shoulder Arthritis Develops

A person does not simply wake up one morning and have arthritis. Arthritis develops in stages, as listed below:

Stage 1: Your cartilage becomes soft.

Stage 2: Your cartilage starts to develop surface-level cracks.

Stage 3: Your cartilage begins to deteriorate and flake.

Stage 4: Your cartilage wears away and exposes the surface of the bone.

Through this gradual deterioration, your cartilage loses its ability to act as a smooth and gliding surface, reducing your shoulder mobility and resulting in pain. There are a few causes of this gradual deterioration:

• Age: As we get older, it’s natural for wear and tear on the joint to increase. Individuals over 50 are more likely to experience shoulder arthritis.
• Genetics: Our genes can influence the integrity of our joint structures. In fact, some individuals are genetically predisposed to developing arthritis.
• Previous Injuries: Fractures and shoulder dislocations may accelerate joint degeneration. Younger people who have sustained injuries are at a higher risk for developing shoulder arthritis.
• Inflammatory Conditions: Chronic, inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus can contribute to inflammation within the joint and cartilage damage.

Over time, these factors culminate in the breakdown of cartilage, resulting in pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of motion. Working with a healthcare professional can help to determine your risk for shoulder arthritis as well as implement preventative measures to prolong the health and mobility of your shoulder joint!

The Signs of Shoulder Arthritis

Since the amount of cartilage loss varies from individual to individual, arthritis symptoms can vary. However, the common symptoms below can help to provide a greater understanding of your unique picture.

Shoulder Joint Pain

The biggest indicator of shoulder arthritis is pain in the shoulder joint. This can include pain in the front, side, or back of the shoulder, or a radiating pain down the arm and into the elbow and wrist. Some individuals experience pain even when they aren’t using their arms! Pain may also be exacerbated when lifting, carrying heavy objects, or recovering after exercise.

Crackling, Clicking, and Grinding Noises

When the surface of a shoulder joint becomes worn down or irregular due to arthritis, crackling, clicking, and grinding noises can often be heard and felt. While not always painful, the cracking or clicking can result in your shoulder “locking up.” Additionally, some may feel their shoulders slide in certain positions because the surface of their joints is no longer smooth.

Joint Stiffness

Stiffness in the shoulders, with or without pain, can indicate that arthritis is progressing. Feeling like your shoulders are locking up, or experiencing long-term stiffness can eventually limit the range of motion you are able to perform. This loss of mobility can impact many activities and make it difficult to complete tasks.

Preventing and Treating Shoulder Pain with Natural Remedies

If the symptoms above sound familiar to you and your case, this next section will be beneficial to you! In addition to taking salt baths, using warm compresses, and stretching, there are a few preventative measures, natural remedies, and regenerative treatments that can help you to avoid surgery and relieve long-term shoulder pain.

• Rest and Ice: If you’re experiencing a pain flare, you may find that resting and icing the shoulder can help! Be sure to wrap the ice in a towel or apply a cold compress to your skin. Try applying for 15 minutes a day for 2-3 days.
• Natural Anti-Inflammatory Diet: What you eat can aid in recovery! Changing your diet to include more anti-inflammatory foods or supplements daily can help to prevent and manage pain.
• Physical Therapy Exercise: While physical therapy may not treat the cause of arthritis, working with a skilled therapist can help improve the range of motion in your shoulder.
• Treat the Cause with Regenerative Medicine: Regenerative injection therapies offer a safe, effective, and non-surgical solution to preventing and treating pain. Ethos is a leading integrative medicine practice that offers regenerative injection therapies customized to each patient’s individual needs.

Wrap-Up on Navigating Shoulder Pain and Regaining Mobility

Shoulder arthritis is a slow burn; Whether you’re beginning to notice the gradual effects of joint degeneration, or are looking for a solution to address severe arthritis and relieve long-term shoulder pain, our integrative approach can lift that weight off your shoulders.

At Ethos, our team of sports medicine experts is here to help; With our regenerative injection therapies and a treatment plan tailored to YOU, we’ll get to the root of your pain and restore mobility. Click here to chat with our experts today; Let’s get you back to feeling and performing at your best.

Related Resources

What is the cause of wrist pain?

Feb 17, 2026

How to treat muscle weakness and fatigue In Scottsdale, AZ?

Dec 18, 2025

How to tell if hip pain is muscular or bone?

Dec 4, 2025

What are common performance medicine treatments in Scottsdale?

Oct 23, 2025

How Do You Fix Shoulder Pain From Working Out?

Oct 10, 2025

How Can I Relieve Knee Pain?

Sep 24, 2025